Mold separator apparatus

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for removing molded articles from a continuous, nonsynchronous system using multi-section, self-clamping molds. The apparatus is a mold separator-assembler having an elevator, and a horizontal position mover for disassembling the mold into sections, tracks for receiving sections of the self-clamping molds, and a track mover for moving the mold sections along their respective tracks to parallel, co-planar work stations. Once the molded article is removed at one of the work stations using an intermediate mechanism, the main sections are pre-treated and then reassembled using a second elevator and second horizontal position mover, for the next injection operation.

This application is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/963,797filed Oct. 20, 1992, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,358,398, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 07/877,349 filed Apr. 30,1992, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/621,675 filedNov. 30, 1990, now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating amold to remove a molded article, and more particularly to a method andapparatus for continuously separating and processing molds duringmolding of articles in a continuous molding system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of continuous injection molding systems are currentlyavailable for manufacturing articles using materials cured under thecontrol of heat and pressure. In the past, single or multiple cavity,divided molds were typically used in such systems. The molds weregenerally pre-heated to a desired temperature, and material was theninjected into the molds. The molds were first clamped or compressed, andthen injected with molding material using, for example, an injectionpress, and cured under pressure.

The production rate of injection molded articles in systems of the typementioned above has been increased using a variety of conveyors totransport the molds between injection, compression and heating stations.A variety of devices have also been used for removing the articles fromtheir molds once the curing process is completed. Unfortunately, suchdevices have not provided the flexibility necessary to accommodate thespeed achieved in different stages of system operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatusfor separating multi-section molds and removing molded articlesmanufactured in a continuous molding system. The present inventionprovides a mold separator-assembler apparatus which separates a mold,and increases the time allowed for each individual function needed to beperformed during removal of a molded article from a system mold andpreparation of the mold for the next injection operation. The increasein time is accomplished by parallel processing of the mold sections ofeach mold. The separator-assembler apparatus then reassembles the moldfor further injection molding operations.

The continuous molding system is a nonsynchronous system wherein amulti-section, self-clamping mold is injected with molding material by amaterial injector. A transfer system is then used to transport the moldto a curing apparatus for curing the article. Once the molded article iscured, the mold is transported by the transfer system to the moldseparator-assembler apparatus of the present invention wherein the moldis unclamped, and disassembled into its sections, so that the finishedmolded article may be removed from a mold section. The empty moldsections are then pre-treated, assembled and clamped for transport fromthe mold separator-assembler apparatus by the transfer system to aposition for production of additional molded articles. A controllersystem choreographs operation of the injection system for injection ofthe molding material into the molds, and the proper timed movement ofthe molds by the transfer system through the material injector, curingapparatus and mold separator-assembler apparatus to ensure the propercuring of the articles to be molded.

In accordance with the preferred method and apparatus of the presentinvention, the material to be cured is a high grade compound moldingmaterial. The self-clamping, pre-loaded mold is preferably a singlecavity mold having two or more sections. However, molds having differentinternal configurations may be used within the system, and molds havingone or more cavities and/or sections may also be used, to enable theconcurrent molding of different parts. The mold includes a clampingdevice for securing the sections in pre-loaded condition, in which thesections are arranged in stacked or parallel planar relationship. In theclamped or pre-loaded condition, the mold is under pressure, without theuse of an external press or other clamping or loading force.

Prior to injection of material into the mold, the mold is preferablypre-treated with any necessary mold coatings, heated to a desiredtemperature to assist with curing of the material, or provided with anyinserts or other internal elements to be included within the article tobe molded. Upon completion of the pre-treatment process, the mold isassembled and the self-clamping device is engaged to clamp sections ofthe mold together under a force of between zero and 6000 pounds, butpreferably approximately 6000 pounds. The mold is then moved intoposition for the injection of the molding material.

An injection system having a material injector with an injection head ispreferably used for injecting the molding material into the clampedmold. Once injection of the molding material is completed, and curing ofthe molding material within the mold is initiated, the self-clampingmold is removed from the injection system, and preferably moved intocommunication with a transfer system.

The transfer system transports the mold to a curing apparatus. In thepreferred construction of the present invention, the curing apparatusincludes a curing oven, through which the molds are transported by thetransfer system. The curing process is, however, intended to include aprocess which changes the physical form of the material, e.g.conventional vulcanization and melting and solidification as inthermoplastic crystallization. The transfer system transports the moldthrough the curing oven at a rate sufficient to complete curing of themolded article when the mold exits the curing oven. Where differentmolds are used containing different molded articles, the controllersystem ensures that movement of the different molds and articles via thetransfer system, for example, through the curing apparatus, is properlytimed for curing of the articles to be molded. Such curing apparatus mayinclude, but is not limited to, induction, conduction, radiation and thelike.

By combining the use of a high grade of molding material, aself-clamping mold to maintain the molding material under pressurewithout using the pressure applied by the injection head during theinjection of material into the mold, and a curing apparatus, the methodand apparatus of the present invention reduce the overall time requiredto process each molded article, eliminates flash formation on the moldedarticles, and compensates for the shrinkage of the molding materialduring the curing process. Additionally, the molded articles producedusing the present system have physical properties substantially equal tothose of the prior compression or injection molded articles.

Once the molded article is cured, the transfer system transports themold to a mold separator-assembler apparatus, for removal of the moldedarticle, and pre-treatment of the mold for the next molding process. Themold separator-assembler apparatus releases the clamping device of themold. The mold is then moved to a disassembly station where the mold isdisassembled into its respective sections. Once separated, the moldsections are preferably moved between work stations or positions of theseparator-assembler apparatus in co-planar relationship. At a first workstation, the molded article is removed from one of the mold sections. Atsuccessive work stations, the mold sections are cleaned, inspected andpre-treated for the next molding process. As discussed, pre-treatmentmay include steps such as coating the interior of the mold or loadingthe mold with elements to be formed in the articles to be molded, e.g.metal inserts for bushings. The mold sections are next moved to areassembly station, where the mold separator-assembler reassembles themold sections in adjacent, parallel planar relationship. The molds arethen moved to a clamping station where they are secured in clampedcondition using the clamping device. Using the transfer system, the moldis then transported to the injector system for injection molding of thenext article.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of preferredembodiments made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which forma part of the specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1C are a schematic, perspective view of a system for continuousmolding of articles;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are schematic, partial perspective views of apparatusused to separate and assemble molds in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are schematic, sectional end views of the apparatusshown in FIGS. 2A and 2B;

FIG. 3C is a schematic, sectional side view of the apparatus shown inFIG. 2A;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are front and side views, respectively, of an upperalignment member;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are front and side views, respectively, of a loweralignment member;

FIG. 8 is an alternate embodiment of an intermediate mechanism of thepresent invention; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic, partial side view of a portion of theseparator-assembler apparatus used to discharge a mold to the transfersystem.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C schematically illustrate a system 10 forcontinuously and nonsynchronously molding articles from a material curedby heat and pressure. The system uses multi-section, self-clamping molds12 which are injected with molding material by a material injector 14,and then transported by a transfer system 16 to a curing apparatus 18for curing the article to be molded. After the article is cured, themold 12 is transported by the transfer system 16 to the moldseparator-assembler apparatus 20 of the present invention where the moldis disassembled, the molded article removed, and the mold sections aretreated and reassembled for the next molding operation. The timing ofinjection of the mold, and movement of the mold through the curingapparatus 18 and mold separator-assembler apparatus 20, is controlled bya controller system 22.

As illustrated in the preferred embodiment of the system in FIGS. 1A-1C,multi-section, self-clamping, pre-loaded molds are used. The molds 12preferably have a single cavity, and include three sections: a topsection 30, a middle section 32, and a bottom section 34. Detailsconcerning the self-clamping mold are set forth in copending applicationSer. Nos. 07/877,349 and 07/751,015, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,256,056, whichare incorporated herein by reference. Each mold also includes a pallet76 for supporting the mold 12 during movement within the transfersystem.

Prior to clamping of the mold 12 to the pre-loaded condition, the moldis preferably pre-treated: a) by coating the mold cavity with anynecessary coatings to enable the article to be molded to be readilyremovable from the mold cavity; and b) by including additional insertsor other internal elements to be formed within the article to be molded.Upon completion of the pre-treatment process, the mold 12 may be fullyassembled and a self-clamping device engaged to clamp the sections ofthe mold.

Once the mold 12 is pre-treated, assembled and clamped, typically undera force of approximately 6000 pounds, the mold is ready for injection ofthe molding material. The molding material used in the preferredembodiment of the present invention, is a high grade compound materialwhich upon curing obtains characteristics of high fatigue, heatresistance, and other desirable characteristics.

The controller system 22 includes a programmable logic controller. Thelogic controller of provides individual control of each mold 12,including operation of the injection system 14, transfer system 16,curing apparatus 18, and mold separator-assembler apparatus 20.Operation of the controller system 22 is preferably automatic, however,the controller system may be in part manually operated by a skilledoperator to manipulate system operations or movement of the molds 12 asdesired.

The injection system 14 preferably includes an injection press 72. Asschematically illustrated in FIG. 1C, the injection press 72 is a singlestation press. Once injection of the molding material is completed, theinjection head is removed from the mold, and the mold is removed fromthe injection press by the transfer system 16.

The controller system 22 nonsynchronously moves the mold 12 from theinjection system 14, to the curing apparatus 18 via the transfer system16, which is a conveyor 74.

As shown schematically in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the curing apparatus 18comprises a conventional curing oven. Although the conventional curingoven uses temperature to provide material curing, alternative curingmethods, such as induction, are also possible. The molds 12 arepreferably moved via the transfer system 16 through the curing oven 18at a rate resulting in complete curing of the article to be molded oncethe mold exits the curing oven.

Once curing is completed, the mold 12 is removed from the curing oven 18on the conveyor 74. The mold 12, together with the cured article beingmolded, is transferred to the mold separator-assembler apparatus 20 viathe conveyor 74, and under control of the controller system 22. The mold12 is provided to the mold separator-assembler apparatus 20 for removalof the molded article, and pre-treatment of the mold for the nextmolding process.

The preferred embodiment of the mold separator-assembler apparatus 20,illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C, provides parallel processing of theindividual molds and their sections. The mold separator-assemblerapparatus 20 includes mold latch mechanisms 82, a receiving station 84,mold elevators 85, a conveyor table 86, an intermediate mechanism 150, amaterial handling mechanism 152 and an exiting station 88.

The conveyor table 86 is also illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2B. Prior toentering the conveyor table 86 of the mold separator-assembler apparatus20, the mold 12 is conveyed to a first mold latch mechanism 82,positioned along the conveyor 74 before the receiving station 84 andconveyor table 86. The mold latch mechanisms 82 include a pneumaticcylinder which operates to release the self-clamping device of the mold12 using a rotating device 92 for engaging and rotating the moldself-clamping device.

Once the clamping device of the mold 12 is disengaged by the first moldlatch mechanism 82, the mold is moved by the conveyor 74 to thereceiving station 84 of the mold separator-assembler apparatus 20. Atthe receiving station 84, the sections 30, 32, 34 of the mold 12 aresupported on a mold elevator 85, having a pneumatic cylinder formovement of the mold elevator into engagement within the conveyor table86. Specifically, the mold elevator 85 includes a pneumatic cylinderactuator 94 for providing vertical movement of the mold sections.Additionally, pneumatic actuators 95a, 95b, 95c positioned above, at thelevel of, and below the conveyor table 86, respectively, are alsoprovided for horizontal movement of the mold sections. Each of theindividual pneumatic actuators 95a, 95b, 95c includes a pneumaticcylinder and may additionally include other pneumatically operatedequipment, as schematically illustrated, to provide operating movementof the actuators. In the preferred embodiment, the pneumatic actuators95a, 95c include, for example, conventional rodless cylinders 95a',95c', and conventional air cylinders 95a", 95c". These cylinders aremanufactured by SMC Pneumatics, Inc. of Indianapolis, Ind. Theapplication and operation of such cylinders and equipment areconventional, and thus are not further discussed in detail.

During movement and disassembly of the mold into sections, and thepositioning of each mold section within the conveyor table 86, theassembled and unlatched sections 30, 32, 34 of the mold 12 are firstmoved via the conveyor onto the mold elevator 85 and vertically raisedby the cylinder 94 of the mold elevator 85 to a position inapproximately the same plane as the conveyor table 86. The mold sectionsare then pushed by the actuator 95b , or position mover, from thereceiving station 84 and raised mold elevator 85 to a position such thatthe middle section 32 of the mold is supported within the track of theconveyor table 86 for mold middle sections, generally referenced at 106.In this position, shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the top section 30 engages ahorizontally and vertically movable upper carriage assembly 200. Thebottom mold section 34 engages a horizontally and vertically movablelower carriage assembly 220. The upper and lower carriage assemblies areinterconnected with the upper and lower actuators 95a, 95c ,respectively.

Each of the carriage assemblies 200, 220 includes opposite supportmembers, indicated in the upper assembly at reference number 201 and inthe lower assembly at reference number 221. Additionally, upper andlower alignment members 202 and 222 are also provided, and arepositioned as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The upper alignment member 200is illustrated in further detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. The lower alignmentmember 220 is illustrated in further detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. Furtherdescription of the alignment members 200, 220 is set forth below. Itshould be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art that thecarriage assemblies are pneumatically actuated to first engage theirrespective mold sections, and once engaged to move them to their desiredpositions within the table 86.

From the position shown in FIGS. 3A-3B, the top section 30 of the mold12 is then raised vertically, and horizontally moved to the positionshown in FIG. 1B, whereupon the mold section is vertically lowered bythe actuator 95a, positioned above the conveyor table, into engagementwith a track of the conveyor table 86 for mold top sections 30,generally referenced at 102. Also from the FIG. 3A-3B position, theactuator 95c positioned below the conveyor table 86, moves the bottomsection 34 vertically downward and horizontally, and finally verticallyupward to a track of the conveyor table 86 for mold bottom sections 34,generally referenced at 104.

Prior to any movement of the top and bottom mold sections 30, 34 by theupper and lower actuators 95a, 95c, mold wheels 35 of the middle moldsection 32 are supported on, and captured between, opposite, parallelC-shaped flanges 98, shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, which form the middletrack 106 of the conveyor table. Additional pairs of opposite, parallelflanges 98 form the top mold section track 102 and bottom mold sectiontrack 104 of the conveyor table 86. Adjacent the opposite flanges 98forming each of the tracks art positioned pneumatically controlledrotatable shafts 96 having L-shaped flanges 100 secured thereto. The topand bottom sections 30, 34 of the mold 12 are positioned in theirrespective tracks 102, 104, upon horizontal movement by the rodlesscylinders 95a", 95c" of the upper and lower actuators 95a , 95c. Uponarrival at their respective tracks, the top and bottom mold sections 30,34, are released from engagement with the upper and lower carriageassemblies 200, 220.

To move the mold sections 30, 32, 34, along their respective tracks 102,106, 104, track movers or the L-shaped flanges 100, are rotated toengage slot portions 36 formed in each of the mold sections to securethe mold sections within the C-shaped flanges 98. Upon rotation of theshafts 96 under control of the controller system 22, the L-shapedflanges 100 rotate into engagement with the slot portions 36, therebycapturing mold wheels 35 on each mold section within the C-shapedflanges 98 forming the tracks. Horizontal pneumatically controlledmovement of the rotatable shafts 96 is then used to move the moldsections 30, 32, 34 along their respective tracks on the conveyor table86 to the work stations.

The tracks 102, 104 are additionally provided with lower alignmentmembers 222 of the type used in connection with the lower carriageassembly 220. As the alignment members 202, 222 of the upper and lowercarriage assemblies 200, 220 are opposite in orientation but otherwisesubstantially similar, common elements will be referred to using thesame reference numerals. Likewise, since the lower carriage assemblyalignment members 222 are identical to the alignment members used intracks 102 and 104, only the differences between the devices will bepointed out in further detail.

The upper alignment members 202, shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the loweralignment members 222, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, are used to properlyposition each mold section within its proper position or station. In theillustrated examples of FIGS. 4 and 6, a grooved cam portion 159 of amold section 30, 32, 34 is engaged with the alignment member 202 and222. The alignment members 202, 222 of the upper and lower carriageassemblies are secured by conventional fasteners adjacent the supportmembers 201, 221, to a support surface 88 which forms a part of eachassembly. Likewise, the alignment members 222, shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B,positioned along each station of the top mold section and bottom moldsection tracks 102, 106 are secured to a support surface 87 of theconveyor table 86 adjacent the C-shaped flanges 98. The alignmentmembers are positioned at each of the work stations for engagement withgrooved cam portions 159 provided in each mold section. In this engagedposition, the alignment members 222 operate to position the moving moldsections within their work stations along their respective tracks.

The alignment members 202, 222 include a leaf spring portion 162 whichis surrounded and engaged between spring support members 161 which aresecured by conventional fasteners along the support surfaces 88 or 87 ofthe carriage assembly 220 or conveyor table 86, respectively. The leafspring portion 162 supports a wheel 163 which is positioned to engagethe grooved cam portions 159 of the respective mold section 30, 32, 34.When the wheel 163 of the alignment member 202, 222 is engaged with thecam portion 159 of the mold section, the mold section is properlypositioned within the carriage assembly or located at a work station.Once the mold sections are within their respective tracks, continuedmovement of the mold section along the track in the direction of thearrow generally referenced at P, moves the grooved cam portion 159 alongthe wheel 163 and out of engagement with the alignment member, until thegrooved cam portion 159 is engaged with a wheel 163 of an alignmentmember 222 at the next successive work station. The embodiment of thealignment member 222 illustrated in FIGS. 6-7 is for engagement witheach of the downwardly directed cam portions 159 of the mold sections30, 32, 34.

Once the mold sections are separated, add positioned in their respectivemold section tracks along the conveyor table 86, the sections arehorizontally moved in their parallel relationship between work stationswithin the flanges 98 under pneumatic control of the rotatable shafts 96and L-shaped flanges 100. Movement of the mold sections between workstations along the conveyor table 86 is in parallel, co-planarrelationship. At a first work station 108, the molded article is removedfrom, for example, the middle mold sections 32. Removal of the moldedarticles may be an operator, or by an intermediate mechanism 150, asillustrated in FIG. 1B and 2A. The intermediate mechanism 150 isillustrated as a pneumatic actuator 154, including a rodless cylinder155a for providing horizontal movement and an air cylinder 155b forproviding vertical movement. Under direction of the controller 22, theactuator of the intermediate mechanism 150 includes a gripper 230 whichis capable of grasping the molded article and vertically moving anddepositing it in a material handling device. The handling device may bea conventional conveyor system, or simply a supply container providedadjacent the conveyor table and intermediate mechanism. An additionalpneumatic actuator may alternatively be used either alone, or incombination with other devices, to assist with vertical and horizontalmovement of the molded article to the conveyor system and/or supplycontainer. An alternate embodiment of an intermediate mechanism 150' forremoving articles from the mold sections or inserting articles into themold sections is illustrated in FIG. 8. The mechanism 150' is a rateplate device 231 which provides horizontal movement of the gripper 230'for engaging the article to be moved, and an air cylinder 155b' forvertically moving and actuating the gripper. It should be understood,that additional conveyor devices, pneumatic actuators and/orintermediate mechanisms, as shown in FIG. 1B and 8, may also be providedat any or all of the work stations, either to supply additionalmaterials to the molds within the conveyor table, or to remove materialsfrom the molds.

At a second work station 109, the mold sections are cleaned, inspectedand may be pre-treated in advance of the next molding process. It shouldbe understood that each of the mold sections positioned in theirrespective tracks move simultaneously and horizontally to the next workstation. At a third work station 110, the mold sections are providedwith still further pre-treatment processing. In the preferred embodimentof the present invention, the pre-treatment includes coating theinterior of the mold inserts and/or loading the mold with inserts, whichare elements to be formed in the articles to be molded. For example, inthe illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2B, wherein the system 10manufactures vehicle bushings, inner and outer metal inserts are usedwithin the mold and are formed in the molded bushing article. At thesecond work station 109, inner metal inserts M are supplied from asupply device 152, as in FIG. 1B, to a supply channel 156. The supplydevice illustrated in FIG. 1B is a conventional supply container 157,the inserts M may be supplied by a conveyor system or any conventionalsupply mechanism. The supply channel provides the inserts M directly tothe work station 108, whereupon the intermediate mechanism 150 graspsthe insert via the grippers, and moves the insert vertically andhorizontally to the desired mold section as instructed by the controller22.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2B, upon movement to the third work station110, additional outer metal inserts O to be formed in the bushingarticle to be molded are supplied via the supply channel 156 to the workstation 110, and are then placed within the desired mold section by anintermediate mechanism 150 as described above. As discussed above, thesteps performed at the work stations of the mold separator-assemblerapparatus 20 may be accomplished manually, or mechanically usingconventional pneumatic equipment in the form of the "pick and place"equipment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-C and 2A-2B. Alternatively, roboticstechniques could also be used.

Finally, the mold sections are moved to a reassembly station 112 on theconveyor table 86 of the mold separator-assembler apparatus 20. From thereassembly station 112, the mold separator-assembler apparatus 20reassembles the mold sections 30, 32, 34 to their original adjacent,parallel planar relationship in the middle track 106 of the conveyortable 86. The reassembly process is performed pursuant to steps oppositefrom those described in connection with the separation of the moldsections, and uses the actuator 95b to position the sections of the mold12 on the mold elevator 85 using actuator 94.

The reassembly process is performed in reverse of the process previouslydescribed in connection with disassembly of the mold, and thus onlyportions of the process not previously discussed are provided. The topand bottom mold sections 30, 34 are moved vertically and horizontally byactuators 95a, 95c into a position identical to that illustrated inFIGS. 3A-3B, but adjacent the final work station 112. Once in stackedrelationship positioned in the center track 106, the mold 12 is readyfor removal from the table 86 to the exiting station 88. The exitingstation 88 is positioned at an opposite end of the table 86 from thereceiving station 84 where the mold was initially provided to theseparator-assembler apparatus 20.

The actuator 95b used to remove the mold to the exiting station 88 andelevator 85 includes a pusher 170, or position mover, of the typeschematically illustrated in FIG. 9. The pusher 170 engages the bottommold section 34 and moves the section from the table 86 to the exitingstation 88. The pusher 170 of FIG. 9 includes a horizontally movableshaft 171 which pushes the mold 12 onto the mold elevator 85, and arotatable hook member 172 which engages and disengages the slot portions36 as desired, and under direction of the controller 22.

Once the mold is pushed onto the exiting station 88 and elevator, themold elevator 85 is then vertically lowered using the actuator 94. Themold is transported via the conveyor 74 of the transport system 16 to asecond mold latch mechanism 82. The mold latch mechanism 82 operates toengage the clamping device 46 of the molds at the conclusion of thereassembly process.

Using the conveyor 74 of the transfer system 16, the pre-treated,reassembled and clamped mold 12 is then either transported from the moldlatching mechanism 82 of the separator-assembler apparatus 20 to theinjection apparatus 14 as shown in FIG. 1C. Alternatively, the molds maybe provided to an apparatus for further pre-treatment of the mold 12 forthe next injection process. Upon completion of the pre-treatment stepsto the mold, the mold is transported by the conveyor 74 to repeat themolding process.

A method and apparatus for continuously and nonsynchronously moldingarticles using a self-clamping, pre-loaded mold has been described. Themethod and apparatus are believed to reduce the overall time required toprocess each molded article, eliminate the formation of flash on themolded articles, and compensate for shrinkage of the molding materialduring the curing process. The molded articles produced using thismethod and apparatus have characteristics substantially equal to thosemanufactured pursuant to prior molding techniques. Additionally, themethod and apparatus of the present invention require relatively smallspace, but may be readily expanded to increase the size of the systemand thus the number of parts to be molded. The preferred form of themethod and apparatus have been described above. However, with thepresent disclosure in mind it is believed that obvious alterations tothe preferred embodiment, to achieve comparable features and advantagesin other molding methods and apparatus, will become apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
 1. Apparatus for removing molded articles from a continuousmolding system, said apparatus comprising at least one multi-section,self-clamping mold, a disassembly station having means for unclampingand separating said multi-section mold into sections, at least one workstation having means for moving and locating said mold sections inhorizontal, co-planar relationship, locating said sections to permit theremoval of molded articles, and pre-treating said sections for the nextinjection of material into said mold, and a reassembly station havingmeans for aligning said mold sections and clamping said multi-sectionmold in clamped condition, wherein said reassembly station includesmeans for moving and locating said mold sections from said horizontal,co-planar relationship to an adjacent, vertical, parallel planarrelationship.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one work stationincludes means for removing a molded article from at least one sectionof said multi-section mold, and a second work station includes means forcleaning and inspecting said mold sections for injection molding.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 further comprising a controller system forcontrolling movement of said mold sections.
 4. Apparatus for removingmolded articles from a continuous molding system, said molding systemincluding at least one multi-section, self-clamping mold, the sectionsof said mold adapted to separate from one another by non-horizontalmovement,said apparatus comprising a disassembly station having meansfor unclamping said multi-section mold into sections and for moving saidsections in a non-horizontal direction to separate said sections fromone another, at least one work station having means for(a) moving saidmold sections horizontally with respect to one another to locate saidmold sections in horizontally-spaced relationship with respect to oneanother, and (b) locating said sections to permit the removal of moldedarticles, and a reassembly station having means for aligning said moldsections and clamping said multi-section mold in clamped condition. 5.The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said mold sections are movedvertically to separate said sections from one another at saiddisassembly station.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said moldsections are moved into a horizontally co-planar relationship at saidwork station.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said mold sectionsare adapted to move through said work station in a travel direction, andto move laterally with respect to said travel direction so that saidmold sections are arranged in a side-by-side relation with respect toone another when in said horizontally co-planar relationship at saidwork station.
 8. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said mold sectionsare movable into a horizontally co-planar relationship at said workstation.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said mold sections areadapted to move through said work station in a travel direction, and tomove laterally with respect to said travel direction so that said moldsections are arranged in a side-by-side relation with respect to oneanother when in said horizontally co-planar relationship at said workstation.
 10. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said work station furtherincludes means for pre-treating said mold sections for the nextinjection of material into said mold.
 11. The apparatus of claim 4,wherein said reassembly station has means for stacking said moldsections one atop the other for placing said mold in its clampedcondition, and further wherein said work station includes means toarrange said mold sections in side-by-side relation in said workstation.